Desert Wings Flight School

Where pilots
are born

Career-pilot training at Falcon Field — Mesa, AZ. PPL through CFI on a single path, built from the outcomes of every pilot we've graduated.

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The path

What does the
path look like?

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In their words

Hearitfromthepeoplelearningtoflyhere.

Career-pilot tracks aren't built on slogans. They're built one solo, one checkride, one cross-country at a time. Here's what the people in our cockpits are saying.

Patrick V., Desert Wings student.
INSTRUMENT RATED · COMMERCIAL TRACK
I've been flying with Desert Wings since March. In just a few months, I've earned my instrument rating and am preparing for my commercial checkride.
Patrick V.Commercial Pilot · 2025
Vincent R., Desert Wings student.
CFI INITIAL · CHECKRIDE PASSED
Walking into my checkride, I felt confident and prepared, and I owe that to the dedication of the Desert Wings team.
Vincent R.Certified Flight Instructor · 2025
Grace C., Desert Wings student.
COMMERCIAL · COMPLETED 2025
Amazing flight school! All very experienced instructors, especially Jake and Isaac, with safe and reliable planes.
Grace C.Commercial Pilot · 2025
Programs · FAR Part 61

Everycertificate.Logged.

One school, every program. The career-path rows on top — the order most students fly them. Add-ons and recurrency below.

Career pathPPL → CFI · the order they're earned in
PPLPrivate PilotArcher II~70 hr~6 moIRInstrument RatingArcher II~50 hr~3 moCOMMCommercialArcher II~190 hr~6 moCFICertified Flight InstructorArcher II+25 hr~3 mo
Time-buildingthe ATP gate
ATPAirline Transport PilotMixed fleet1,500 hrTime-building
Add-onsmulti-engine & advanced ratings
CFIICFI — InstrumentArcher IIAdd-onVariableCOM-MECommercial Multi-EngineSeneca IIAdd-onVariableMEIMulti-Engine InstructorSeneca IIAdd-onVariableTB-MEMulti-Engine Time BuildingSeneca IIBlockVariable
Recurrency & introone-offs
DFDiscovery FlightArcher II0.5 hrOne dayBFRBiennial Flight ReviewYour choiceReviewEvery 24 moIPCInstrument Proficiency CheckArcher IIReviewAs needed
The team

Sevenpeople.Onefield.Oneschool.

Brandon Schneider, Flight Instructor.
Brandon Schneider
Flight Instructor
CFI · Aviation Explorer Volunteer
Rick Ryall, President of Desert Wings.
Rick Ryall
President
Private Pilot since 1989 · RV-10 Builder
Jacob Johnson, Director of Operations.
Jacob Johnson
Director of Operations / CFI
ATP · Gold Seal CFI · CFII · MEI · 2,500+ hr
Isaac Young, Flight Instructor.
Isaac Young
Flight Instructor
Gold Seal CFI · MEI
Dennis Haworth, Flight Instructor.
Dennis Haworth
Flight Instructor
Flying since 1990
Devon Webb, Flight Instructor.
Devon Webb
Flight Instructor
CFI · CFII
Patrick Vasquez, Flight Instructor.
Patrick Vasquez
Flight Instructor
CFI
About Desert Wings

One roof.First solo to ATP.

A Part 61 career-pilot pipeline based at Falcon Field (KFFZ) in Mesa, Arizona. We graduate students from PPL through CFI under one roof — the same instructors who watched them solo sign off their cross-countries. The desert sky doesn't cancel lessons, and the path works because we've watched it work.

  • CertificatePart 61
  • FieldKFFZ · Mesa AZ
  • Founded2008
  • PathPPL → CFI
View the full team
The fleet
PA-28-181N9487K

PiperArcherII

Single-engine trainer

  • Power180 HP · Lycoming O-360
  • Cruise128 KTAS
  • Range640 NM
  • Ceiling13,650 ft
  • AvionicsDual Garmin G5 · IFR
  • Cost$280 / hour wet
View full specs
Piper Archer II